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Inspiring
June 29, 2012
Answered

Renaming a layer without touching mouse?

  • June 29, 2012
  • 6 replies
  • 42492 views

When exporting files from Illustrator, I get a ton of layers named <path> and <group>. I want to quickly rename these layers in Photoshop.

I'm using Alt-[ & -] to move up and down my Layer palette, but I haven't figured how to change a layer name other than double-clicking on the name (which takes a hand off the keyboard). Is there any way to rename a layer by using the keyboard only?

Correct answer Paulo Skylar

If you are using CS6 things are a bit easier.

Double click on one of the layer names to retype. Then just press tab (or shift tab for the other direction) and the next layer name is highlighted and ready for retyping. Continue doing the same for the remaining layer names.

Paulo

6 replies

adriawo
Participating Frequently
April 15, 2025

I add a shortcut (cmd+shift+R). And you can use tab/shift tab to navigate between layers.

 

 

It works with layers and groups.

🙂

 

this shortcut will be conflit with Filter > Lens Blur, or something like that.. but I dont use it.

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
December 30, 2020
Rishi Kumar
New Participant
December 30, 2020

I have made a free to use script to rename Objects/layers in Illustrator. I have made an action and call this script in that, after that I am assigning a shorcut key to that action it. You can see the full documentation, it will be really helpful.
Here's the Google Drive Link

I came across this problem when I was working on a character in Illustrator to be used in an animation. To my surprise, I found that there is no keyboard shortcut in Illustrator to rename layers/objects. With so many groups and layers, renaming things by going in layers panel was very frustrating. 

Community Expert
December 30, 2020

Interesting.  I might have to check it out.  I'm always down for things to streamline my process

Paulo Skylar
Paulo SkylarCorrect answer
Inspiring
June 29, 2012

If you are using CS6 things are a bit easier.

Double click on one of the layer names to retype. Then just press tab (or shift tab for the other direction) and the next layer name is highlighted and ready for retyping. Continue doing the same for the remaining layer names.

Paulo

New Participant
August 29, 2012

Does this also work in Illustrator, and does it switch between all layers (including those grouped along with the group layer) or only whatever lever you're at?

I don't have CS6 but am facing a project that will include renaming somewhere around 95,000 - 100,000 layers in total by the end. This may finally justify upgrading to the bean counters.

Noel Carboni
Brainiac
August 29, 2012

I can't answer your question about Illustrator, but I just wanted to say you have my sympathy in having to come up with 100,000 layer names, never mind operating the equipment.  You're going to be mind-numbed every day after work having to do that all day.

-Noel

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
June 29, 2012

If you are on version cs5 or older you could make a shortcut for Layer>Layer Properties using Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts.

 

On cs6 it would be Layer>Rename Layer.

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
June 29, 2012

What version of photoshop?